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Topic Review (Newest First)

04-28-2006 05:22 PM

gasser34

Where's "Propaniac" when you need him?

04-28-2006 04:51 PM

crazygutgut

1.21 jigawatts!!? 1.21 jigawatts!!?

04-28-2006 04:44 PM

gasser34

Does anyone know where I can get a flux capacitor that runs on delithium crystals that will fit on a sbc?

04-28-2006 12:49 PM

ckucia

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve t

can you imagine a chopped street rod with a electric motor tubbed out or going to drags with no sound

I'm a little late to the thread, but I've been thinking a lot lately about an electric rod. There is already an electric drag racing association, and I think NHRA now has a class too.

I'd miss the noise of a healthy V8, but electric motors are torque monsters. I wish more people would get into EVs - I think some real progress could be made.

IMHO, the problem with EVs is that they have been largely driven by "greenies". Many of those I've seen are built for short hops by people with limited mechanical ability. Most are currently built by stuffing the electric parts in where the mechanical parts formerly were. Also, being pure electrics, they have limited range with today's affordable battery technology.

I have thought for awhile, that if some rodders got into the act, some great things could happen.

Firstly, instead of building an EV for environmental reasons, build it for performance - make the most of an electric propulsion system for acceleration.

Secondly, I think hybrids are the way to go. If you don't have any range, the car's no fun to drive. Yes, its more complicated, and yes, it still burns hydrocarbons, but if the engine is running at near-constant speed in its power/efficiency band, then you're going to be better off and have good performance too.

Thirdly, I think these have to built more from the "ground-up". I don't' mean a complete from-scratch machine, but I believe the entire chassis has to be built around the electric/hybrid drivetrain. Locate the battery packs down low and balance them out to improve weight-distribution and handling. Design the suspension to carry the weight. It wouldn't be all that much more complicated than putting a newer drivetrain in an old rod, just different parameters to achieve.

Lastly, some good data is really required. Electric motors measure HP differently than ICEs. I have looked and haven't seen any good way to guestimate what performance would be given a vehicle weight, gear ratios, electric motor HP/RPM, etc. Until someone can "run the numbers" and get an idea of what sort of acceleration they're likely to get, there won't be much enthusiasm. I've seen some anecdotal evidence that EVs are actually quicker than a lot of "performance" cars, but its mostly "trial and error" right now.

The thing about hybrid electrics is it has the potential to benefit everyone - the same way the original hotrodders activities spilled over into the rest of the auto industry. On top of that, it gives us all a way to perpetuate our hobby in the face of a changing world. Conceptually, its not that much different than the move from carbs to EFI was/is. Look at what happened when EFI finally caught on to our hobby. As a side benefit, we may be able to get more performance out of an EV than we're getting now out of our muscle cars, with better emissions, and less maintenance. Its win/win for everyone, if you can live without that heart-thumping sound we all love.

Just my thoughts...

03-23-2006 08:04 AM

Rob Keller

the more you know..

so now tell me again how the oil companies are not ripping us off............

my truck only gets 10 mpg and the way gas prices are going up i'm going to have to ride the bus almost everyday.and howcome gas prices keep going up if the gas companies are already making a mil a day if they are making that much who would it hurt if they lowered the gas price at least 50 cents.

03-23-2006 02:50 AM

Gr8 '48 bow tie

Global warming caused by man? Bah Humbug. Remember the lessons we all learned when we were youngsters in school about the ice age and the warming that caused the glaciers to melt and slide across the land masses and form the great lakes. There were no fossil fuel burning vehicles to blame for the temperature change. I wonder, could it have been caused by the hand of God. He wanted to make the Earth more hospitable for better living conditions. He used the glaciers to cause lakes to be formed, a nice place for fishing, boating and camping. Naw, that can't be it, sooo it has to be .....I wonder if Fred and Barney had to answer to the tree huggers society each time they took their Rockmobile out for a Sunday drive. It was they, who are responsible for blowing holes in the ozone. Their horses belched way too much raw fuel into the atmosphere and that is why we are suffering today from fallout when the winds blow and the rains fall.

Al

03-21-2006 11:34 PM

66GMC

I *WAS* of the opinion that "hot-rodding" was pretty much a baby-boomer phenomenon ... but there are lots of young guys on this board that are proving me wrong. For their sake, I hope the government stays out of this hobby.

As far as the "global warming" aspect goes ... I don't know. Based on what I perceive to be a percentage of "smoke-belching old cars" on the road at any given time, I don't think they're hurting much.

Most of us are driving "emissions-friendly" newer vehicles as our "daily drivers" and just pull the rods out when we need an adrenaline fix, aren't we?

Besides ... most of us will keep our "old iron" (pride and joy) in a better state of tune now than most were back in the 60's and 70's.

Point ignition is pretty much history, as well, and I believe that was a cause of a lot of unburned HC's.

On a related note, I hate to think of what it will take for the average Joe to be a hot-rodder when the 2006 vehicles become the "hot-rod" of the future.

Cripes ... everything is crammed in like a plumber's (and electrician's) nightmare ... and replacement *assemblies* cost an arm and a leg. For example. there are no "wheel bearings" any more ... you have to fork out $300.00+ for a hub assy.

Parts prices for "creature comfort" items are just bizarre. I looked up a DVD player for an (off-warranty) 2003 Ford Expedition (Eddie Bauer version) today. Although the Exped is a very nice vehicle, buying one of these at nearly $8,000.00 would probably just about double it's value.

Insanity!!!

03-21-2006 10:52 PM

powerrodsmike

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve t

can you imagine a chopped street rod with a electric motor tubbed out or going to drags with no sound

Back in 94 when I worked at the fiberglass shop, we built a 29 model A roadster body that was going to be used with a electric vehicle. The Rod Factory was building the chassis and the car was going to be built by a company called Wild EVs. They had a Fox bodied mustang with their electric powered super controller thingy that was turning 12's or 13's (I could be wrong about the ET's but not by alot), at the drags already. The guy from wild EVs showed me a picture of the mustang doing a wheelstand. Almost made me want to start buying batteries. I looked around a few times for those cars now that we have the 'net, but I couldn't find anything about either car. Then in the late 90's a guy from santa cruz was working with us to build a startup run of 6 '27 ford roadsters with electric power. The motor was in the trunk, batteries and controller in the front. I think his capital ran away, he was kind of freaky. Later, mikey

03-21-2006 10:26 PM

dickl

Kind of glad I'm 70, I think me and the old Terraplane can last it out

03-21-2006 06:09 PM

steve t

can you imagine a chopped street rod with a electric motor tubbed out or going to drags with no sound

03-21-2006 06:01 PM

31 Ford A

50 + yrs. strong

I did, 50 plus years ago. it's almost as good now as it was then. If GOD allows, i'll have another 20 years!

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